Our Most Blessed Mother

08-23-2020Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We are so blessed to have Our Blessed Mother leading us through the difficulties in life. We celebrated the glorious feast day of Our Lady, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, last Saturday. The feast day recalls the death of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the Dormition, or falling asleep, as it was known in the East. The Assumption reminds us that Her body did not decay but that She was raised up, body and soul, into heaven.

On August 22nd, one week later, we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary again with the Feast of Our Lady, Mother and Queen. This feast is also celebrated as the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. On the October 11th 1954, Pope Pius XII established the Feast of the Queenship of Mary to be celebrated throughout the world, and requested that on that day each year, the world should renew its consecration to her. The Feast came to be celebrated on the 22nd of August.

"The purpose of the Feast is that all may recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and motherly sovereignty of her who bore God in her womb." (Ven. Pius XII, Ad. Coeli Reginam)

On the day of her Assumption, which the Church celebrates on August 15th every year, Mary our Mother was solemnly crowned by Christ and received in Heaven as Queen. What Christ has done in Heaven and the Church has done on our behalf we should now do individually, that is, we should recognize Mary's Queenship, enthrone her in our homes, consecrate ourselves to her and, by this means, establish in our lives the reign of Mary Immaculate Queen of the Universe.

Here is how you may Enthrone Mary Immaculate Queen in Your Home and Consecrate Your Family to Her. Begin by obtaining a blessed statue or picture of Our Blessed Mother. You may ask a priest to be a part of the ceremony, otherwise the head of the family can do it. Prepare Her altar with flowers and candles, giving Our Lady an honored place in your home where all will see Her and often pray to Her.

Begin by gathering the family together. Light the candles. Explain the importance of praying for each other and especially the importance of asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray for us. Perhaps the parents could let the child(ren) hold a rosary or a sacred medal or blessed object like a small statue. Begin with the Sign of the Cross and then pray the Act of Contrition… 3 Hail Marys… and 3 Glorias. Say the invocation: “Mary Immaculate Queen: Triumph and Reign” three times.

This is followed by the Act of Consecration:

O Mary Immaculate Queen, glorious Queen of the Universe, most powerful Virgin, merciful Mother of a merciful God and refuge of sinners, we consecrate ourselves to Thy Royal and Immaculate Heart.

It is through thee that Jesus Christ our King has come into the world to save it. It is also through Thee that He is to reign over the world.

In order to obtain this great benefit for ourselves and all mankind, we come to Thy feet to consecrate to thee our persons, our lives, all that we are, all that we have, all that we love. Keep us, enlighten us, dispose of us, reign over us.

May all hearts and all homes willingly proclaim Thee as their Immaculate Queen.

Closing Prayer

O Mary Immaculate Queen, look down upon this distressed and suffering world. Thou knowest our misery and our weakness. O Thou who art our Mother, saving us in the hour of peril, have compassion on us in these days of great and heavy trial.

Jesus has confided to thee the treasure of His Grace, and through Thee He wills to grant us pardon and mercy. In these hours of anguish, therefore, thy children come to Thee as their hope.

We recognize thy Queenship and ardently desire thy triumph. We need a Mother and a Mother's Heart. Thou art for us the luminous dawn which dissipates our darkness and points out the way to life. In thy clemency obtain for us the courage and the confidence of which we have such need.

Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, Thou Who didst crown with glory in Heaven the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior, grant that all her children on earth may acknowledge her as their Sovereign Queen, that all hearts, homes, and nations may recognize her rights as Mother and as Queen. Amen.

Lastly, if you haven’t yet signed up for online giving for our parish. Please do so here: saintbernadette.weshareonline.org. Your gifts are needed now more than ever so we can continue the mission of the Church of making more disciples. Thank you for all who have helped to keep our parish focus on Christ, Our Eucharistic King!

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